Electric incubator



ELEGTRI C I NCUBATOR Fi] rid Nov. 1.920

2 Sheet s-Sheei: 1

June 2%, 1923. 11,460,349

' L. CAKES ELECTRIC TNCUBATOR Filed Nov. 5, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 omrss Patented J1me 26, 1923.

. UNITED STATES LUCLAN R. CAKES, OF TIPTON, INDIANA.

ELECTRIC INCUBATOB.

application filed November 3, 1920. Serial No. 421,538;

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LUCIAN R. OAKES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tipton, in the county of Tipton and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Incubators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric incubators of that class in which eggs are placed for hatching purposes, one feature of the invention being in so constructing the parts of the incubator that it will be more or less compact, and at the same time accommodate the usual number of eggs, means being provided for maintaining the incubator in a sanitary condition.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of thermostatically operated means for controlling the heating elements within the incubator so that the temperature may be maintained substantially at a uniform degree.

A further feature of the invention is 2 the provision of means for mounting an electric heating element within the cover portion of the incubator whereby the heat, as it is generated, will descend onto the eggs within the incubator.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter more fully set forth and pointed out in the accompanying specification.

In the accompanying drawings which are made a part of this application,

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse central sectional View through the incubator,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the inner face of the incubator cover showing the heating and illuminating elements in position, parts being broken away,

Figure 3 is a sectional view as seen on line 3-3 Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional View as seen on line 4-4 Figure 3,

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional View as seen on line 55 Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the cover portion of the incubator showing the same in use as a brooder, and

Fi ure 7 is a sectional view as seen on line -7 Figure 6. 7

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Positioned within the body 1 is a lining 5 preferably of metal, the upper and lower edges of said lining having flanges 6 and 7 respectively, the upper flange projecting over the upper edge of the covering 2, while the lower flange 7 forms a support for a screen 8, said screen being preferably constructed of mesh wire and used for supporting eggsa distance above the floor of the body-1, ny suitable means, such as rings 9, being rovided for lifting the screen out of the "incubator for cleaning the same, and also for giving access to the bottom portion of the body 1, so that the body can be maintained in a sanitary condition.

The body 1 is provided with a cover 10 which fits over the edge of the body 1, and has an inner lining 11, parts of which rest upon the bead 12 at the upper edge of the body, thereby forming a close connection between the body and the cover. The cover is attached to the body in any suitable manner as by means of hinged sections 13, said sections being pivoted together by means of a pin 14.

The cover 10 is hollowed out and the lining 11 is so positioned as to form a cavity 15, and in this cavity is positioned a heating coil 16, said coil being preferably enclosed in a circular casing 17, which casing is preferably formed in two sections and the edges of one section crimped over the edges of the other section thereby forming beads 18 at each side of the casing. The casing and heating coil are suspended from the lining 11 by means of hangers 19, said hangers having hooks 20 at their free ends which fit over and engage the beads 18 at-the edges of the casing 17, the bar portion of the hangers extending through clips 21 fitted to the inner face of the lining 11. The hooked ends of the arms of the hangers are held in engagement with the beads 18 by extending a cotter pin 22 transversely through the arms of the hangers, although other devices may be used for this purpose, if desired. In order to hold the cover 10 in elevated position, when desired, so that free access may be had to the interior of the body 1, a bar 23 is pivotally attached to the lining 11 and has an angular foot portion 24 at its free end which, when the cover is swung to open position, rests against the edge of the body 1 and holds the cover against swinging action, a guide 25 being provided for causing the end of the bar to travel over the edge of the lining 5. Current for heating the coil 16 is conveyed through wires 26 and 27 which are connected to any suitable electric source, the wire 26 being intercepted by a switch mechanism 28 which is mounted in an insulating block 29 resting upon the cover 10 and centrally thereof, the switch 28 being controlled by a thermostat 30 carried by a bracket 31, and said bracket is attached to a sleeve 32 depending from the cover 10 and extending through the lining 11. A plunger 33 is mounted in the sleeve 32 and is longitudinally movable therein although it is held against rotation by forming the plunger substantially square in cross section and crimping in the lower end of the sleeve 32 for engagement with the squared faces of the plunger.

Co-operating with plunger 33 is a rod 34, which rod is threaded at its lower end into the upper end of the plunger 33 and passes through the switch 28 and is so constructed that when the plunger is moved upwardly by the expansion of the thermostat the switch 28 will be moved upwardly and the circuit broken therethrough. The extended upper end of the rod 34 is provided with an indicator 35 which co-operates with a dial 36 mounted upon the block 29 so that by rotating the indicator 35, the plunger 33 will be adjusted longitudinally with respect to the thermostat 30 thereby regulating the degree of heat required for operating the thermostat for breaking the circuit through the switch.

A cup-shaped cap 37 is pivoted at one edge to the top of the cover 10 and fits over the switch mechanism mounted on the cover, the opposite edge .of the cap from the hinged portion having a latch 38 for normally holding the cap in closed position.

In order to light the interior of the incubator when the cover is elevated an electric bulb 39 is extended through a reflector 40 mounted on the inner face of the lining 11, the stem of the bulb 39 engaging contact points 41 and 42 mounted upon a block 43 connected with the upper face of the lining 11, said contacts having wires 44 and -15 respectively, attached thereto, these wines being connected with the wires 26 and 27 and receive current from the same source. The wire 45 is severed in its length and the severed ends connect with separate poles 46, said poles being so arranged that the circuit therethrough will be closed when said poles are in contact with a gravity operated switch arm 47, the arm having a looped portion 48 which is pivoted in a block 4:9, the switch forming portion of the arm l7 extending normally in a horizontal position while the opposite end thereof extends in a vertical position, and attached to said vertical position is a weight 50, said weight serving to normally hold the switch forming end of the arm out of engagement with the poles l6. As soon, however, as the cover 10 is moved upwardly the weight 50 will gradually swing the horizontal end of the arm into engagement with the two poles l6 and complete the circuit through the bulb 39, thereby causing an illumination and this illumination will continue until the cover 10 is swung to its lowered position when the weight 50 will again move the arm L7 out of engagement with the poles 46.

In addition to illuminating the interior of the incubator the light may be employed for testing or examining the eggs to determine the fertility thereof, and when so used a shield 51 is fitted around the edge of the reflector 40, the outer end of the shield having a reduced neck 52 into which the egg is to be introduced while being examined, a cushion 53 of felt or similar material being placed .over the reduced neck 52 to prevent injury to the egg when it is introduced through the neck.

After the chicks are hatched, and before they have gained full strength, it is necessary to protect them and keep them warm, and as t e temperature within the incubator would be too intense for this purpose a brooder or hover is provided by removing the hinge pin 14 and placing a curtain 54 around the edge of the cover, the top edge of the curtain having a wire 55 incorporated therein for holding the upper edge of the curtain in relation with the cover. The curtain 54 depends from the cover and the cover is held in an elevated position by means of supports 56 which are substantially U-shaped and have their upper ends entered in sockets 57 attached to the inner face of the cover.

By removing the cover from the incubator and attaching the curtain thereto the temperature is more nearly reduced to that of a mother-hen, the same coil being used for heating purposes as when the cover is attached to the incubator, but owing to the fact that the curtain is formed of fabric and is more or less porous the temperature will not be nearly so intense as within the incubator propeigbut will be sufiicient to keep the chicks warm.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I clalmas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an incubator, a hollowbody portion, a heat retaining covering within said body, a lining terminating a distance above the bottom of said hollow body portion and having an outwardly and inwardly extending flange at its upper and lower ends, respectively, the outwardly extending flange projecting over the upper edge of said covering, a screen resting upon the inwardly extending flange, a cover for said body, and a heatin element in said cover for heating the interior of the body.

2. In an incubator, a hollow body portion having an interior covering of heat retaining substance, the walls of said body portion having air vents therethrough, a lining having an outwardly and inwardl extending flange at its upper and lower end s mounted upon said lower flange of said lining and spaced from the bottom of the body portion, a cover for said body portion, an

electric heating coil arranged circumferentially in and carried by and entirely within the confines of the cover and suspended above the body, a controlling switch for said coil, a plunger co-operating with said switch and a thermostat for operating said plunger for opening or closing said switch for controlling the temperature of the interior of the incubator.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 27th day of October, A. D. nineteen hundred and twenty.

LUCIAN R. OAKES.

- Witnesses:

CAREY S. FRYE, M. L. Srrumm. 

